WAR: Focus attention on the human equation
NOEL HAGENS; Tacoma
Re: “A civilian surge for Afghanistan?” (TNT, 1-10).
Author Stanley Weiss stressed the importance of focusing on quality-of-life issues for the Afghan people. The Business Executives for National Security chairman called for investment in “programs that will be sustainable and long-term.”
His piece featured several notable individuals – such as Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea” – who have dedicated themselves to building and supporting businesses, health centers or schools in remote villages. Mortenson’s schools provide education to more than 30,000 children, mostly girls. These children will become a powerful force as they become adults.
When adults, especially women, are educated, birth rates fall and children are healthier. Adults themselves are healthier when they are educated. A study in Uganda showed that rural citizens with secondary education have a 75 percent lower rate of HIV infection than those with no education.
Imagine, then, a global effort to deliver education to the 75 million primary school-aged children who are not currently in school. President Obama pledged during his campaign that the United States would contribute $2 billion to initiate a multilateral, multidonor Global Education Fund.
Americans should lead the global effort because it is the right thing to do and because when people are educated, developing countries are more likely to prosper, and we are all safer as a result.
